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Concepts and Vocabulary
A(n) _____ _______ is a function that associates a vector to a point in the plane or to a point in space.
Vector field
True or False Let P=P(x,y,z), Q=Q(x,y,z), and R=R(x,y,z) be functions of three variables defined on a subset E of space. A vector field over E is defined as the function F(x,y,z)=P(x,y,z)+Q(x,y,z)+R(x,y,z).
False
The domain of the vector field F=F(x,y) is a set of points (x,y) in the plane, and the range of F is a set of ______ in the plane.
Vectors
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True or False The gradient of a function f is an example of a vector field.
True
Skill Building
In Problems 5–14, describe each vector field by drawing some of its vectors.
F=F(x,y)=xi+yj
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y)=xi−yj
F=F(x,y)=i+xj
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y)=yi−j
F=F(x,y)=i
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y)=−j
F=F(x,y)=i+j
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y)=−i+j
F=F(x,y,z)=zk
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y,z)=xi
In Problems 15 and 16, use graphing technology to represent each vector field. Then describe the vector field.
F=F(x,y,z)=xi+yj+zk√x2+y2+z2
The vector field is pictured below. See the Student Solutions Manual for a description.
F=F(x,y,z)=−xi+yj+zk√x2+y2+z2
Applications and Extensions
In Problems 17–20, find the gradient vector field of each function f.
f(x,y)=xsiny+cosy
∇f(x,y)=sinyi+(xcosy−siny)j
f(x,y)=xey
f(x,y,z)=x2y+xy+y2z
∇f(x,y,z)=(2xy+y)i+(x2+x+2yz)j+y2k
f(x,y,z)=x2y+xyz2
See Student Solutions Manual.
Gravitational Potential Energy The gravitational field g due to a very small object of mass mkg that is r meters (m) from a large object is given by g=−Gmr3r, where G=6.67×10−11Nm2/kg2 and r=xi+yj+zk. Show that the gravitational field is a gradient vector field. That is, show that \mathbf{g}=- {\boldsymbol\nabla }u, where u=-\dfrac{Gm}{r}. The scalar function u is called the gravitational potential due to the mass m.